We were still at school that day, just a few minutes before 3 PM. Some students have been picked up by their parents, but there are still many students left in the school area and the teachers for sure. Suddenly, the building was shaking, and it keeps on going, even stronger. It was surely a big earthquake. Scared and a bit panic, everybody rushed out to the ground, downstairs, passed the joint of the buildings which was tearing apart. Just some dust and sands, but it was really scary. I’m afraid that the building would fall down. We hold each other, keep our students next to ourselves, some of us keep their most belonging things, and I believe all of us hold to our heart, to remember Allah The Al Mighty. Takbir and tasbih were recited in whispers and out loud. Everybody remember Allah that day.

It was Wednesday, September 2nd 2009, a big earthquake hit Indonesia. The epicentre was offshore, 115 km south-west of Tasikmalaya, with magnitude 7,3 Richter scale. That is huge!!!

The next day, people were doing their business regularly, although still fear of the upcoming (predicted) earthquake. But this BIG reminder of Allah in Ramadhan was just being ‘ignored’ as it has passed by anyway.

In the evening, young people keep doing show of affection in public. I still see people holding hands and hugging to each other on the street or other common room/spaces. And even worse, some of people who are doing this were wearing headscarf!! What a shame. They do it in this holy month Ramadhan, and they do it just after the big warning from Allah through the earthquake.

People back to their habit, eating in the restaurant in midday. And some of them are muslim. Yes… some of them are muslim ladies wearing headscarf, that’s how we know that they are muslim. We know that in a certain period of time, a woman can’t do fasting nor pray, included in Ramadhan month. But that is not an excuse to eat in front of public during the day.

Whoever fasts one day seeking the pleasure of Allâh, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; Sahîh al-Targhîb, 1/412)

Is that what they really want to do if that would be their last day of life? Hmm… I’m not sure.

People, usually children, light fireworks at night, instead of praying tarawih. It could be very noisy at night or after subuh. The youngsters in the neighbourhood are gather and have fun together, lighting fireworks and enjoy the noise of it, while the other are searching for peace. Sometimes I become so impatient and really want to snap at them, telling them to move far away, and let the neighbourhood in silent peace.

Others are keep doing their bad habit, gossiping. People are talking about certain people –mostly celebrities- with their hot gossips which are announced publicly on the newspapers and infotainment.

“Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, Allah is not in need of him leaving off his food and drink.” (Sahîh al-Bukhârî, Abu Dawûd, at-Tirmidhî and Ibn Mâjah)

What a BIG reminder that Allah has given us just a few days ago. May people take a lesson from it, to return and walk in Allah’s path, to get HIS blessings. Allah’s blessing is not far, it lays in our good deeds and sincere intention.